Although osteopathy is a small occupation compared with others in the health sector, it has grown significantly over recent years.
Between 2001 and 2006 the number of osteopaths in New Zealand increased by 28%, compared with 5.5% for all health associate professionals.
Number of osteopaths in New Zealand
(1996, 2001, 2006)| Census | Number of osteopaths |
|---|
| 1996 | 169 |
| 2001 | 243 |
| 2006 | 312 |
| Source: Department of Labour, Jobs and Tertiary Education Indicators Tool. |
Growth in opportunities has partly been because of more New Zealanders turning to alternative forms of healing, such as osteopathy, and general practitioners referring increasing numbers of patients to osteopaths.
Shortage of osteopaths
While the number of osteopaths is increasing, there are still not enough workers to meet demand, and the job appears on Immigration New Zealand's immediate skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled osteopaths from overseas to work in New Zealand.
Each year osteopath numbers are boosted by approximately 30 full-time workers as overseas-trained osteopaths come to work in New Zealand. The majority of these osteopaths come from England. Some come on working holidays while others stay for longer periods.
The shortage is caused by growing demand, combined with a limited intake of osteopathy students as Unitec is the only training provider in New Zealand.
Osteopaths work throughout New Zealand. However, most are employed in the Auckland (31%), Canterbury (15%) and Wellington (11%) regions. There are considerable opportunities for osteopaths to work in rural New Zealand as there are many smaller regions that have no osteopathic presence at all.
Osteopaths are involved in the first review of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003, and this may have an effect on the training and registration for osteopaths.
New Zealand osteopaths are also in consultation with Australian osteopaths to put the Trans-Tasman Mutual Agreement into effect, which will allow New Zealand qualified osteopaths to practise in Australia.
